Carl W. Kenney II is an award winning columnist and novelist. He is committed to engaging readers into a meaningful discussion related to matters that impact faith and society. He grapples with pondering the impact faith has on public space while seeking to understand how public space both hinders and enhances the walk of faith.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Black people shouldn't be asked to forgive Trump's birtherism

This feels like another one of those “shut up and get in
your proper place” moments. It’s assumed that forgiveness comes promptly after
something is said or done to question the integrity of black folks walking in
space occupied by white people.

There are things too hard to forgive. Why show up to parties
celebrating Donald Trump after he stirred doubt related to the citizenship of
President Barrack Obama? After questioning the legitimacy of Obama’s
presidency, and promoting a boycott of his inauguration, why should black
people support the peaceful transfer of powers?

The good book says you reap what you sow.

“I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate
president,” Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, told Chuck Todd, host of NBC’s “Meet the
Press.” “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected and
they have destroyed the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”

Lewis evoked the sentiment felt by many Americans. There’s
an uneasy feeling linked to Donald Trump winning the presidency. Be it his loss
of the popular vote or the intrusion of Vladimir Putin, being suspicious is a
reasonable response.

Sadly, Trump countered with a personal attack following the
news that Lewis plans to boycott the inauguration.

“All talk, talk talk - no action or results” Trump tweeted
along with attacking Lewis for representing a district he claimed is “crime
infested” and “falling apart.”

The outpouring of support for Lewis is squared by critics of
his boycott.

Reince Priebus, Trump's incoming chief of staff, said Lewis'
criticism of Trump was “irresponsible” and challenged President Obama to “step
up” by telling Democrats to stop questioning "the legitimacy of the next
United States president."

"We need folks like John Lewis and others who I think
have been champions of voter rights to actually recognize the fact that Donald
Trump was duly elected. He's going to put his hand on the Bible in five
days," Priebus said.

"I think it’s incredibly disappointing –- and I think
it’s irresponsible -- for people like [Lewis] to question the legitimacy of the
next United States president,” he added. “I think putting the United States
down across the world is not something a responsible person does."

“An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and
told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud,” Trump tweeted on
August 6, 2012.

It was a vicious attack that gained traction with Fox News.
It encouraged stereotypes that invalidated Obama based on the fake news that he’s
a Muslim born in Kenya. It was the excuse some needed to hate Obama. Being black
was enough to discredit Obama’s presidency among those who watch Fox News and
listen to Rush Limbaugh and other promoters of fake news on talking radio. The
lie that he’s a Muslim born in Africa was enough to justify all of that hidden
racism.

It can be argued that Trump is the champion of fake news.
His rise as a candidate for office can be linked to his effort to delegitimize
the Obama presidency. He has offered no apology.Rather than concede his role in encouraging
hostility toward Obama, he blamed Hilary Clinton for the initial suggestion
that Obama is not an American citizen.

Trump refuses to acknowledge the damage he created. In a
September 2015 CNN/ORC poll, 43 percent of republicans believed Obama is a Muslim.
Another 13 percent believed Obama was born outside the United States. (see: https://www.rt.com/usa/315347-americans-obama-muslim-poll/).
The poll suggested that a substantial number of the doubters were Trump supporters.

Black people have reason to denounce Trump for promoting
birtherism. Journalist have reason to question how Trump used birtherism to
build a base of backers who believed his fake news. Americans have reason to
speculate on Trump’s ties with Russia, and women have reason to boycott Trump’s
inauguration.

America’s divide is not something the Obama administration
created. It was orchestrated by a media blitz to discredit Obama’s citizenship.

Forgiveness has been part of the black community’s DNA. Not
this time. Don’t expect a long line of black people endorsing the Trump
administration. Don’t shame black people for refusing to embrace the peaceful transfer
of powers.

Doing so is paternalistic and assumes a level of authority
that Trump, and many of his supporters, denied President Obama.

Get ready for four long years. This time, moving forward
will not be about conceding the will of the President. This time, it’s about
doing onto others as others have done onto black people. The other cheek has
been turned for over 400 years. This time, expect to be called out for your
hypocrisy.

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Carl W. Kenney II

Carl was named the best serious columnist of 2011 by the North Carolina Press Association for his work with the News & Observer's community paper The Durham News and in 2016 by the Missouri Press Association for his columns in the Columbia Missourian. He is a columnist with the News & Observer and Co-Executive Producer of "God of the Oppressed" an upcoming documentary film on black liberation theology. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri - School of Journalism and Adjunct Instructor at Duke University, the Center for Documentary Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He furthered his education at Duke University and attained a Master of Divinity. He was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development at the Princeton Theological Seminary on May 14, 2005. He is a freelance writer with his commentary appearing in The Washington Post, Religious News Services,The Independent Weekly and The Durham Herald-Sun. Carl is the author of two novels: “Preacha’ Man” and the sequel “Backslide”.
He has led congregations in Missouri and North Carolina